DEAR DIARY #013
2 quick facts about me…
1. I love having nail polish on my nails.
2. I am the worst person at painting nails.
This combination often leaves me with very, very, poorly done nails. Currently I have one hand done, semi-nice…and the other, well it’s my right hand…no one really looks at the right hand..do they? Don’t really know when I’ll have the time to get to that but oh well because…
IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME!!!!!!!!!!!! Well soon, soon, sweet ones.
Last week, James and I had a little Christmas date. For our 8 month, he surprised me with tickets to Butchart Gardens. I’ve been living in Victoria my entire life and never had I ever been to Butcharts at Christmas time! So we bundled up and went on a sweet little date last Wednesday. It was beautiful. Insanely…
my favourite spot, the Sunken Gardens…
five golden rings…12 days of Christmas scavenger hunt…
Even though the lights were amazing, my favourite part had to be the ride on the Carousal! We caught the last of the choir and then drank some hot chocolate. Sweet, sweet times with my sweet, sweet man.
Last night we had our connect Christmas party. 7 girls and 1 guy…fun times. but then Ian Locke showed up…that’s right friends, IAN LOCKE is home for the holidays!!!!! This good friend of mine has been living in Australia for the past three years. Also, Chris is home & Alyssa! I loooooove when friends come home for the holidays.
Like, I mentioned in a previous post, every single minute of my day is structured…working insane amount of hours at a few jobs but only 5 more days until CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!! I cannot wait to spend the day eating chocolate and hanging with my loved ones.
over & out,
s.s.♥.
BAPTISM
Water Baptisms are happening at my church on January 1st. Honestly, I couldn’t think of a better way to ring in the New Year. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing many baptisms and always, always, always my heart sparkles with joy. It’s kinda one of those things, you just have to experience yourself. What breaks my heart is hearing Christians say, ‘I’m not ready to be baptized/ I’m waiting for the perfect moment to be baptized/excuses/excuses etc etc…’
Let me tell you something (I hope you receive this in a loving way!), there will never be a “perfect moment” to be baptized. There will always be something in the way/someone who can’t make it/you’ll always be nervous, etc. And if you’re waiting until everything is perfect in your life, let me break it to you…life is never perfect, you will never be perfect. We are all in desperate need of God’s grace.
I was 18 when I fully surrendered my life to the Lord and became a Christian. I was young and messed. That year was one of the craziest years of my life. There were many, many ups and many, many downs. I did not have my crap together. But by the grace of God, I mustered up the courage to be baptized. I was attending Hillsong London and all baptisms were held in homes or during the summer at a beach.
My circumstances were not ideal, my family was half way across the world, my best friends were half way across the world and I was going to get baptized in a tiny bathroom, yep, in the bathtub. But let me tell you this, I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. I had given my heart to Christ and even though he was sorting out my life (as he still is today), I made the decision to be baptized. My lovely, lovely, connect group leader baptized me. There were 10 people in attendance. It was absolutely incredible.
The scripture really describes the experience best when Jesus, himself was baptized.
"13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”
15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.
16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” -Matthew 3:13-17
In that tiny bathroom, it honestly felt as if the Heavens opened and God himself smiled down on me and said, “This is my dearly loved daughter, who brings me great joy.”
there I am at 18, ready and waiting my baptism!
and there i am out of the water.
If you have a few minutes please watch this video…just warning..there will probably be tears & snot!
Follow from Elevation Church on Vimeo.
Let this be an encouragement to all of you debating on whether to get baptized or not. If you love Jesus and have committed your life to Him…do it! You’ll be blessed.
love you!
s.s.♥.
p.s. friends! I want to hear about your baptism experiences! Post in the comment section below!
GETTING ORGANIZED...
